Alex Turcotte Has Arrived

The 2019 NHL Draft featured several players in the top ten who have faced their share of ups and downs in their careers. Unlike some previous drafts, many of these players have struggled with injuries or have been traded away from their original teams early in their careers.

Kaapo Kakko was recently traded following the drama surrounding the New York Rangers, as the former second-overall pick landed with the Seattle Kraken. Bowen Byram (fourth) is a Stanley Cup Champion, was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, and has faced concussion issues early on. Kirby Dach (third) was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Montreal Canadiens and has also been injury prone.

Philip Broberg (eighth) had difficulty breaking into Edmonton’s defensive lineup but began to show promise during the playoffs last season. After being exposed to offer sheets, he is now a member of the St. Louis Blues. Trevor Zegras (ninth) of Anaheim was the talk of the league in his first few seasons but is now a significant name in trade rumors. Similarly, Dylan Cozens (seventh) has been caught up in trade discussions this season as Buffalo continues to struggle. Vasili Podkolzin (tenth) spent three seasons in the KHL post-draft, and once he arrived in Vancouver, things didn't work out. He is now with the Edmonton Oilers after a trade this past offseason.

Jack Hughes (first) remains a consistent presence for the New Jersey Devils and an MVP caliber player. He is agile and smooth on skates, making him one of the best American-born players in the game. Moritz Seider (sixth) won the Calder Trophy with Detroit and remains a key player for his team’s future.

So, where does that leave Alex Turcotte (fifth)?

Turcotte has faced a multitude of injuries, has been involved in trade discussions, and has played 110 games fewer than the next player in the top ten, Podkolzin, who played three seasons in St. Petersburg. In some circles in Los Angeles, he has been likened to Thomas Hickey, a comparison that is far from flattering.

For Turcotte, it's time to block out the noise, if he hasn't already. He has arrived.

Much like Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield, Turcotte is now enjoying consistent top-line playing time, which had facilitated the development and breakout of both Kempe and Byfield. Turcotte has always possessed the potential and skill; he just struggled to stay healthy.

Now that he has finally put together one of his longest stretches of injury-free play at the professional level, he has an incredible opportunity to break out due to the absence of Trevor Moore.

The trio of Turcotte, Anze Kopitar, and Kempe has become the Kings' best line since being assembled in the Tri-State Area. According to NaturalStatTrick, in 102:01 of ice time together, they have a Corsi percentage of 55.66% and a Fenwick percentage of 53.80%, outscoring opponents 9-3. They also have a 4-0 ratio of high-danger goals/against. The line’s numbers and analytics reflect that the question of top line trio being solved.

Turcotte has recorded four points (2 goals, 2 assists, +2) in the three games he has played with his current line. In the 24 games leading up to the game against the Rangers, he registered 2 goals, 7 assists, and a total of 9 points, with a +9 rating, while averaging just under 12 minutes of ice time per game. For comparison, his ice time in the game against New Jersey before his promotion was only 10:06. Since then, he has not played fewer than 16 minutes. He is finally getting the opportunity to make more of an impact.

While in New Jersey, Turcotte spoke with THNLA about not needing to change his game and feeling a sense of belonging. He emphasized that "self-belief" is a significant factor in becoming a top-line player in the NHL and reaffirmed after the game against the Rangers.

This development prompts management to make difficult but necessary decisions. Often, when players underperform, they are moved or waived. For Turcotte, his success could lead to another player being traded from a position of strength. This situation is somewhat reminiscent of Slava Voynov's rise, which paved the way for the Jack Johnson-Jeff Carter trade, and the rest is history.

Although the team isn’t in the same position the 2011-12 Kings were—on the cusp of contention—they are in a much better overall situation with their top prospects transitioning into full-time NHL players and potentially more than just regulars.

Turcotte has given early indications that he intends to stay in the top of the lineup. His play resembles that of Byfield when he first joined the line in the 2022-23 season. Turcotte, like Byfield has similar high-end vision and speed that complement elite players, but potentially grittier for digging out pucks and facilitating the forecheck for his teammates.

The Kings have indeed faced a significant number of injuries to their top prospects over the past five years, which has hindered their development (see Gabriel Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, Akil Thomas, Turcotte, Byfield, and Arthur Kaliyev). This shift in fortune is exactly what the franchise needed, especially since many assets have been spent or mismanaged.

Turcotte's emergence causes another player to be pushed down the lineup, and Moore’s return will inevitably lead to lineup changes. These decisions are challenging, but management must proceed wisely. The dividends are starting to materialize, and promising times are ahead for the Los Angeles Kings now that their former fifth-overall pick is in a prime position to take the next step